Ben Stokes Claims Six Scalps in English Test Series Warm-up

Tour match, Perth venue (day one of 3)

Development squad 382: Will Jacks 84, McKinney 67; Ben Stokes 6-52

England XI: still to bat

Ben Stokes produced six wickets in his first action since July but England faced an injury concern regarding fast bowler Wood on the first day of their Test preparation versus England Lions in Western Australia.

The England captain, making his comeback after approximately four months away with a shoulder problem, bowled 16 overs across three bowling spells for his 6-52 versus England Lions – all to catches on the leg side.

Pace bowler Wood, also making his comeback after nine months out with a knee injury, bowled a scheduled amount of 8 overs before departing the field in the afternoon session because of a hamstring issue. He will receive scanning on the following day.

Wood's injury sucked the energy out of the day, as the Lions were bowled out for 382 on a slow, low surface after an uncontested toss at Lilac Hill.

The tourists wanted to field first to accumulate bowling time before the initial Test match at the main venue, starting on November 21st.

In a possible hint towards their opening Test strategy, the visiting team fielded an fast bowling lineup – four specialists plus the captain – and left off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in the development squad.

Jacob Bethell failed to press his case for inclusion in the Test side, making only two, but Will Jacks boosted his credentials to be called upon later in the tour by hitting eighty-four.

Ben McKinney, Jordan Cox, 17-year-old Rew and Potts also scored half-centuries.

The team's decision to play a solitary practice match against the development squad has been criticized by some ex-players but the captain responded by labeling the critics "has-beens".

A low-pressure opening day in front of a smattering of fans at the ground was certainly a different experience from what the team will encounter at a sold-out Optus Stadium next week.

The captain was superb in the series against the Indian team in the home summer, only to push himself to breaking point. He missed the final Test with a torn shoulder.

The captain has not completed a complete participation in any of England's previous four series because of different fitness issues and the team's hopes of winning back the Ashes are significantly reduced if he misses any of the five Tests in the host country.

He has been practicing at full pace for two months and appeared in fine shape on Wednesday, even if he could not comprehend the way in which some of his dismissals were presented.

Jacks is unlikely to play in the first Test – the team look to have revealed their hand with the eleven selected here. Nevertheless, he may have nudged himself ahead of the out-of-sorts Bethell with his 84, which came at almost a run a ball.

Prior to the doubt over Mark Wood, the five fast bowlers in the England XI for this match may not have been the bowling unit for the first Test.

Brydon Carse missed the first day because of illness, with his place going to Tongue. Tongue had opening batsman Ben McKinney caught behind just after lunch.

Although Stokes took the scalps, Jofra Archer impressed observers. He was lively with the fresh ball and once more after the interval, when he caused problems for Jacks.

In the omission of Bashir and with Wood leaving the field, Root was asked to deliver 14 overs of his off-spin. It was average performance, costing 117 at an run rate of over eight.

Root at least took a wicket in the closing stages when Fisher somehow hit a full delivery to the fielder before Archer bounced out Potts for fifty-three with the final ball of the day.